Thread 96: Stories 1-15

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 >AJ
"Twilight"
'Pinkie'
[FS]
{Dash}
(Rarity)
~~~~

>Soooo, that's what's up.

"Giant monster falls out of the sky, turns out he's just a little bored, the end."

'...He's not, seeking the destruction of all ponykind or something?'

>Nope.

[Not saying he's going to take the place over?]

"He's not."

{Not giving us ANY reason to punch him?}

>Not.
"A."
>"One."

(...That is SO WEIRD, right?)

"Right?"

'There's not even a setup for a superhuge battle!'

{He's just... putzing around? What a waste of a super space monster!}

>Fella just got bored and wants ta' see something interestin'.

(...HUH.)

{Sooo... what do we do about it?}

"At the moment? Nothing, I guess. His distortions of destruction are weird, but he's trying to stop them. And he's not really doing anything harmful, so..."

>So we wait fer' him ta' make a move, and iffin' he don't... well, Ah' guess he can go hang out with Centitrain in the 'pile o' scary things we got layin' around'.

(...HUH!)

>Yep... bout sums it up...

'...I'm not the only one a little disappointed, right?'

>"[{(...)]}"

"What's that say about us?"

>...we were tha' monsters all along...

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>??
"??"
~~

Alone.

Being alone is a feeling unlike any other. All others can be quantified, to an extent, explained, understood, have a distinction to them. But being alone is something else, for it has no set emotion, or reaction.

Being alone for a child is even less understandable.

>C-come...

To be alone when all one wants is the contact of another, is understandable, even if it would be kinder as a mystery.

>C-come back...

To be alone, abandoned, forgotten, leg twisted in an unnatural angle from the racing one had done, that can be quantified, it can be understood.

That does not mean it can be forgiven.

>Why'd you have to leave me...

Rain, cooling rain, came down upon her, soothing her broken leg, but also taking away from her the warmth she had. So little had been left, and now as it sought to take it all.

>Was it... was it-

"No, little one, it wasn't."

A shield.

No... something simpler, nothing so grandiose as a knight, something far more simple blocked the rain, the dark clouds from her sight... an umbrella.

It was returning, the warmth. Coming back as gentle hooves scooped under her, cradled her, brought her into the embrace of skin hard, and slick.

>...Why did they leave me...

A sigh, a brush of the hair, a tightening of the grip, a comfort in the embrace.

"We shall never know, child. Perhaps they could not sustain themselves any longer, and wished not to bring you down with them, never thinking you would break your leg as you did. Perhaps they thought you would be fine, and merely could not hold you any longer... or perhaps they were monsters most foul, who ran from the responsibility they had been given just because it became so hard..."

A flicker, something in the bushes. A shape... no, two shapes, one on top of the other, tightly held, never let go...

"...But we shall never know, and thou must make peace with that. For dwelling upon this, the rain, shall bring you nothing but the cold. Seek the sun, at last."

>...I-I'm afraid...

"Of what, child?"

>That I'll get up there... and they'll say it was my fault.

"No... no, never. It was their choice, whatever their reasons."

She gripped harder, so hard it would have choked him, had she been able. Had she the strength, he would not breath.

>...I'm not ready to go...

"Of course not, little one, that is why I am here. Tell me... what is it you want to see, before you go?"

She heard it, the rain outside had become a thunderstorm, a hail of crashing water and lightning and thunder.

>I... I want...

"Yes?"

It intensified, winds so strong trying to carry her away. Like claws unseen trying to rip her from his grasp.

>I want....

"Say it..."

But he held on.

Against it all, he held her, shielded her, protected her against whatever was to come.

Like they never had, not once.

>...we were going to see the fair. They told me... they told me we were going to see the fair, because I had been so good.

"...So... monsters it is, then..."

From his grasp, the umbrella was torn free, ripped from his appendage without pause. She gasped, burying herself into him, praying that she would not join it in these winds that threatened to tear her away.

And join it, she did not.

"...Child... I do believe you said you wanted to go to the fair."

With his grasp no longer holding the umbrella, it was free. It was free to reach to the heavens...

And tear the clouds from the sky, leaving only bright blue skies... and a glorious sun.

"Much better. Now... let's see here..."

She felt weightless, ethereal as she was lifted into the air, buzzing of wings humming in her skull.

"I do believe we need... a ferris wheel!"

With a single wave, the forest was torn away, making room for a dazzling circle behemoth of steel and lights to rise from it's place.

"Ahhh... and what good is a fair without... games!"

Again, he swung. Like magic the brush fell away, a path of gold connecting all sorts of wondrous shops filled with toys and prizes to be won.

"And of course, we wouldn't want you to get hungry... food it is!"

She gasped, leaning over his foreleg as the stirring scent of cooked food and sweet treats she had never been privy to in life wafted into her nostrils once more.

"Come come, your turn... what is it thou wanted to see?"

She looked up to him, with wide eyes and a glowing smile.

>...A roller coaster... that's as big as the sky...

"...Well? Go on! Make it!"

Cautiously, tentatively, she reached out...

And squealed with glee as she swung her hoof, a Goliath snake of steel serpentine from the ground in crazy wispy waves only possible in the mind of a child. It coiled every which way, until at last they were at the very tippy top of an impossibly long dive.

Looking down, she suddenly felt unsure.

"What is wrong? This is your fair, after all."

>...it's just so... high.

She shook with fear, back into him embrace once more.

"Ahhh, well, not to worry child. I have you. But... Oh! I know what you need, how silly of me to forget."

>What?

He smiled to her once more, and raise his hoof.

The sounds that filled her ears would resound for all the rest of time.

Ponies, hundreds of them, thousands! On the ground, in the air, flying all around up and down and sideways... and behind her too!

"What good is a ride... if one cannot experience it with others? Are you ready to go?"

Her nerves became like steel, her eyes clenched shut and unsure.

Her little head nodded, and the ride lurched forwards.

"Here we gooooAHHHHH I FORGOTIHATETHESETHINGSAHHHHHHWHYTHEDEVILDIDIGETONTHISTHINGAHHHHHHHHISHOULDHAVEGONEFORTHEFERISSWHEEL!"

She giggled with glee as he grabbed her, holding on for dear life while she had the time of her own...

But, eventually it was over. A million twists and turns later, it was over. And not a second before she wanted it to be.

"...Where shall we go next?"

Every ride, at least twice. Every game, until she could stand no more. Every food tasted, until she felt like she would burst a million times over. Ever prize, so she could share it with her friends. All her new friends who were so happy to see her, she shared with them all. That's what friends do, after all. Every single one she wanted to experience, and feel.

Every single one, at least twice.

The sun was setting.

The moon was coming. The dark would be here soon.

...she wouldn't.

"Was it everything you wanted it to be?"

The fair behind him began to fade, losing all focus, crumbling without leaving a trace. The rides and the ponies and the world itself, crumbling away.

All through it, she smiled. All through it, she never stopped smiling, even as the cracks began to move on to her, and light shined through her form so small.

>...Thank you, Da-

She never stopped smiling.

Even when she was gone.

And he was alone

"...Thank thee, for helping me out. I do not think I could have managed the creation this grand all alone... and thou were correct, tis possible to send a ghost into slumber, we owe thee an apology for laughing."

A presence, unseen by the one before, made herself know as the stars above took shape, and the moon seemed to shift in place.

'Of course you do, we are the mistress of dreams, and thou would... hrmph! And tis' a bit much to assume thou could create something this grand in another mind by thineself. She needed to be happy to move on.'

He still felt it, the prickles of the light upon his chitin, the feeling of warmth she left behind. He still felt her, even now.

'Are thou alright?'

He did not answer.

He merely looked to the stars, the stars that were not real, and held no connection to those that were.

"I wonder if I'll see them again..."

She had no answers. She had no words.

But that's alright.

It didn't matter, in the end.

'Come. There is still much more to do.'

His second test, passed...

And so many more to go.

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>???
"Construction workers"
~~~~

"...So that was weird."

"I think I pissed myself."

"Just to tell you? Murder-suicide pact. All the cool kids are doing it."

"Goddamn Sprike, shut up with that!'

"Murder. Suici-"

SLAM!

"GAH!"
"FUCK!"
"MS PACT! MS PACT! MAKE IT!"
"I SAID SHUT UP!"

>TALK! NOW!

"...Queen Chrysalis?"

"Uh, ma'am, we told you, it's going to be-"

>NEW PLAN! Put a damn tarp over everything not done and just work on getting a floor they can stand on! That's it! Fuck everything else like you were hoping it would save your dying marriage!

"...what."

"O-oh fuck how did you know-"

>JUST GET IT DONE! That thing didn't wander towards Canterlot, but it can't come back here! So if it ends up over there, guess who's not gonna be!

"...is it your cha-"

>IT'S MY CHANGELINGS! Get! It! DONE!

SLAM!

"..."

"I hate that our prince is fucking her."

"Right? It's like trying to tell your bro's wife to stop when she's being pushy."

"Nag nag nag, all the tim-"

SLAM!

>WAIT A MINUTE... the FUCK are you doing here?

"Oh, um... h-hi! Hi Queen! Queenie bo beenie feenie... yeeaaah, Mrs Glitz's husband hurt his hoof the other day, sucks I know right, s-so she was... you knooooww, kind of upseeet so I said I'd cover for him so he doesn't get docked any pay! They're uh... well they need that. So here I am!"

>...

"...I'm sorry..."

>...Uh... huh...

Creaaaaak.
Shut.

"...Do you think I made her mad?"

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OOCO
>AJ
"SA"
'Celestia'
~~~~

>Nope.

"Yep."

'Pretty much what I expected.'

>Shinin'? Stop tryin' ta' enable her, ya' dang enabler.

"AJ? Stop trying to be a grump."

>Ah'm not bein' a grump, Ah'm bein' smart. We can't afford it in this weeks budget.

"Look, I said I'd pay for it."

>And that's makin' it worse!

"Oh you."

'Applejack, come on...'

>AIN'T STANDIN' FER" IT!

'Oh... fine. Sorry, Shiny, I'll just stay here.'

"Oh, alright..."

'...'

>...

'...I would've shared-'

>LIAR! Ya' ain't never shared with me none! Ya' only ever give cake ta' HIM!

'Applejack noooo, come on, I'll share!'

>AH'M NOT GETTIN' HURT BAH YOU NO MORE!

*Flees!*

'...One time you promise her a slice of your apple-cider-rum cake, and then go too far eating it, and she never lets you live it down!'

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 >Lavan
"Conductor"
~~~~

>...This is new.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!"

>I like this, it looks unique.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!'

>There is steel and iron to make a tube to hold you in, and then it goes forwards... it is so simple.

"AHHHHHHHH!"

>Is it fun? Show me what you find fun on it.

"...'

*TOOT TOOOOOOT!*

>...

"I like to pull the little whistle."

>That is very fun. Is there anything else?

"Uh... n-no? It's just... goes fast one way, goes fast the other, toot the horn, that's all there is to it."

>Is it more fun if you go fast?

"Well, I mean, I gue-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhh...."

>...he did not look like he was having fun, that must not be very fun...I am bored now.

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NC
Lavan
~~~~
What's this? What's this? Snow and crystal everywhere.
What's this? Strange creatures in the air.
What's this? Has time changed my eyes?
I must still be dreaming
Cease this, Craig, this isn't fair!
What's this?

What's this? What's this? There's nothing at all wrong!
What's this? There's ponies singing songs!

What's this?
The streets are lined with little ponies laughing
The hearts power makes them happy, have I possibly gone daffy?
What is this?

There's ponies throwing snowballs
Like I saw inside my heads!
There's dancing girls and boys
And absolutely no one's dead!

This dome gives me but a window
Oh, I can't believe my eyes
And in my fire I feel new warmth
That's coming from inside

Oh, look
What's this?
They're running to and fro, they hiss
Why that looks so unique, inspired!
Come ponies please I want to hear the story, please don't mind my roasting fire!
What's this?
What's this?

In there they've got some little trees, move sphere!
And who would ever think
And why?

Their houses covered with tiny little things
They've got glowing lights on strings
And there's a smile on everyone
So, now, correct me if I'm wrong
This looks like fun
This looks like fun
Oh, could it be I got my wish?
What's this?

Oh my, what now?
The children all do weep
But look, I don't have any teeth
No beast, no monster here to scream and scare them
Or ensnare them, only little happy things
Secure them in their crystal land
What's this?

The fires are all missing
And the volcanos can't be found
And in their place there seems to be
Good feeling all around

Beside the screams, I swear
I can hear music in the air
The smell of cakes and pies
Are absolutely everywhere

The sights, the sounds
They're everywhere and all around
I've never felt this good before
This empty place inside of me has been filling up
I simply cannot get enough

I want it, oh, I want it
Oh, I want it for my own
I've got to know
I've got to know
What is this place that I have found?
What is this?

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>18
"42"
~~~

>PHEW! No structural damage, he didn't crack the train tracks, nothing climate wise is going to get past the shield... we're A-okay! This is great! This is good!

"..."

>...Forty Two?

"..."

>...Forty Two.

"..."

>...ugg... you wanted to punch it, didn't you?

"NO!"

>...

"...yes..."

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 >Lavan
"Iron Will"

>So this thing-

"Seminar."

>This seminar teaches creature to...

"Be more assertive! When your times are full of strife, take control of your life!"

>Rhyming! This pleases me!

"Atta boy, you look like someone that needs to learn how to do that...bein' a floating mouth and all."

>Oh yes! I'm on fire a lot, which sets things on fire a lot. I'll be able to stop that when I'm whole again.

"A shattered life, ya say? Well I got just the cure, buddy-"

>I'm Lavan.

"-Lavan! I want you to look in the nearest mirror!"

Fwip.

"...did...did you just?"

>No no, I didn't just make a mirror appear out of thin air.

"Oh, alright, well-"

>I made it come here from somewhere else. Teleportation, it pleases me.

"...riiight. Well I want you to look right in that mirror and-"

>But I have no eyes yet.

"...but you can see me."

>Yes.

"So what's the problem?"

>Well I can see but I can't look.

"...wh...what?"

>It's complicated, I'm weird.

"I'll say. Well try and see yourself in the mirror!"

>This I can do!

"And I want you to say, 'When life makes ya cry, suck it right back in your eye!'"

>This sounds impossible!

"Well it's just an affirma-"

>I will do this!

"Wait, wha-?"

The minotaur known as Iron Will watched as the ever-present inferno around the perpetually smiling mouth seemed to flare up further, causing his muscular body to break out in sweat which somehow froze upon his body. He shivered, cold in spite of the flames before him.

"W-w-what's h-h-happening!?"

>I am!

Then in an instant, the flames were almost blown away, now levitating above the mouth was a single, almost ridiculous looking, eyeball. It regarded the minotaur in conjunction with the wide smile.

>...you're shivering a lot. Are you cold.

"N-n-not an-n-n-nymore!"

>But you are still-

"I'M GETTIN' OUTTA HERE! RUN FOR IT, GUYS!"

>...okay, bye Helpful Bull, bye small goats! ...it's nice to look again.

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>Pommel
"Celestia"
~~~

>Soooo-

"So just stay on high alert, yes. Otherwise? He's just sort of... wandering."

>Huh.

"Yes, I am noticing the familiarity to the situation of a very big, powerful being wandering around unchecked and able to cause destruction at a moment's notice, but at least we can see this one."

>...Wha?

"Oh, right. You missed that..."

>...

"...Don't worry about it, she only popped up and wrecked things twice, and only a city the one time."

>What.

"Though to be fair the giant robot did more damage there."

>WHAT!?

"...Just have scouts keep an eye on it, but don't engage."

>Uh... can do?

"..."

>...

"...You can say it."

>I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE A MOOOONTH!

"I know."

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 >Lavan
"Aztec Ponies"
'Head Aztec Pony'
~~~~

>Hello.

"GAHHHHHHHH NOT AGAIIIIIINNNNNN!"

'Now can we-'

"""""NO!""""""

>What? What is he asking to do?

"We're not sacrificing someone to ward off the clearly evil spirit!"

>Sacrificing someone? That sounds strange, is it interesting?

"..."

'How's Magogo coming?'

"THE SUPERGLUE DIDN'T DO SHIT!"

'Curses!... ehhhh?'

"NO!"

'Fine! You know what!? What do YOU want to do! Lets hear some ideas everyone! All you do is shoot down all of mine, offer none of your own then blame me when things go wrong, so lets hear it!'

"..........."

>Well? This is very interesting.

'No wait! Hey! Let's hear from him too! You there, flaming floating thing, what do YOU think we should do to prevent you from razing our city to the ground AGAIN! Come on! Let's hear it!'

>...Hrm... well, I'd find something more interesting for me to go look at, everyone sitting around and looking at me isn't very interesting.

'FINE!'

Deftly, he chucked a wad of papers at him.

'There you go! Brochures to all the coolest spots in Equestria! You'll notice we're not in them, because our only deal is that we're NOT MARETONIA! NOT! That's our whole thing!'

>That doesn't sound very interesting, that just makes me want to see this... Maretonia, it sounds more interesting by comparison.

'Well, what'dya know!? Maybe that's why our tourism dollars are down to jack all!'

>...This is good! These all look much more interesting than you!

'Twist the knife more, please, I still feel some warmth in my heart.'

>You have my thanks, not Maretonian pony! These shall be very interesting indeed!... Goodbye!

Without another word, he turned around, and floated into the distance.

'....'

""""""""".....""""""""""

'...huh...'

"'""""""....."""""""""

'...Still think we should've-'

"""""""NO!""""""""

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 >Spitfire
"SA"
~~~

>...Nope... nope... nope... nope... nope... nope...

"What on earth are you doing?"

>Killing time while my scouting party finishes up making sure there's no residual anomalies.

"Oh... they did that-"

>I'M SO PROOOOUD!

"..."

>Sorry, it's just... I don't say that very much.

"Heartbreaking."

>I know...

"But when I asked what you were doing, I meant specifics on why you were looking at a single page in a magazine and then adding it to the giant pile beside you. That's... weird."

>I'm trying to see if any of these say you and me aren't fucking.

"...ah... and?"

>No such luck.

"Ahhhh... Hive Gazzette."

>Seriously? The one that came from the changeling?

"Most honest paper I've ever read."

>...Anything else?

"Nope! You should see what they say about me and Chrysalis."

>I have... a lot.... heh.

"What?"

>Trying to imagine if it was like that.

"You would look AMAZING in a harem outfit, I say without any judgement."

>Awww, thanks, you too.

"Oh, I know, Cadence loved it."

>Whoa ho! Now we're-

"I thought Forty Two and Eighteen looked better in them, though."

>...

"..."

>...

"...Conversation over?'

>Yeeeppp... think that's a good place to stop.

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NC
>Applejack
"Applebloom"
'SB'
[SL]
~~~~

>...Ah'... Ah don't... Ah' don't even...

"You're welcome!"

>How did' ya... how...

'It's all fixed!'

>...Ah' just...

[Aren't you proud of us?... Aww, still no cutie mark!]

"But we did so well!"

>...how...

'Well, Chitania said she needed spinal surgery done, so we decided to practice!'

>...she actually needs chest surgery...

"...OHHHH! So THAT'S why we didn't get our cutie marks!"

[Whoops! Sorry, lady!... Good thing we didn't try it on the real thing, eh?]

'That would've been embarrassing!'

>...

"Applejack?"

>G-get a trash bag... some matches and wood... and if anybody asks, NONE OF YA'LL HAVE EVER EVEN MET POTATOJACK, OKAY!?

"W-wha-"

>OKAY!?

"..."
'...'
[...Cutie mark Crusader Trash pickup?]

"'[YAY!]'"

>Ah'm gonna be sick.

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>Twilight
"Chitania"
'AJ'
[Celestia]
{Luna}
~??~
~~~

It had not been an easy choice.

Applejack was risking a lot here, maybe everything, on this choice. She was risking herself, her friends, and the possibility of letting loose something even worse out upon the world than it was already burdened with.

But times were changing. Now, more than ever, her city required a stable treasury, a way to pay their budding guards and Wonderbolts, and she dared not risk the unknown of taking out such a massive loan from every one of Canterlot's elite. Chitania, at the very least, was simple. They, on the other hoof, did not get where they had gotten by being nice and not taking advantage of every single choice made, and the royalty itself in their pockets was a very big advantage indeed.

This level of payout would mean paycuts to every one of her guard already, and for at the very least a year. Seeing as they had finally gotten back to levels just barely been called 'stable' such an option was not in her, or her countries, best interest. With the new possible threats on the horizon, the fact that they needed to keep up the rolling success before it grinds to a halt and leaves them with little in personal defense and even less with ways to hire on new defenders, this option seemed...

Well, to be honest, and Applejack always was, it was just was awful as the other options. This had so many risk factors, so much could go wrong. This was as bad as her janitorial staff being laid off on mass and ponies down below struggling to make ends meet with the wealth of new taxes that they would be forced to bear.

But at least this devil, she knew, and had some basis that she would keep her word and do as she said. For all her faults, the Queen had not lied, not a once. Either this meant she had some sense of nobility to her... or she was waiting for the right moment.

This one.

It had not been an easy choice, it had not come quickly.

But she had made it.

And come what may.


"I knew you would make the right choice."

They had been lead down into a warehouse, one that ran behind Canterlot, into the mountain beyond, Twilight, Celestia, Luna, Fluttershy and Applejack herself. All of them ushered into the darkness to an area they did not recognize.

It was quite spacious, easily as big as a ballroom dancefloor, with only a single thing to break up the monotony of the emptiness. A single circle of curtains, put right in the middle of the room, sealed off by a bubble of plastic, hiding away whatever was inside.

'Let's just get this over with.'

The titan gave her a positively wicked smile, fangs glistening with barely contained excitement. Behind her, a cry rang out, a meep of sudden pain.

'HEY! Fluttershy-'

"You may leave now... I insist."

She had only needed to examine the hairs for a second before she made her call. It seemed that somehow, the Titan knew that indeed, this was the real deal, and not a disguise or an illusion... Applejack would have to question that later.

Without a word said, but plenty of bitterness to be cast towards the changeling, the yellow chaos pony reluctantly took her leave, sharing only a single, sympathetic look to all of them before doing so.

The moment she was gone, a wave of green washed through the room, a crackle of energy that nearly knocked them all on their rears.

'WHAT KINDA GAME ARE YA' PLAYIN'?!'

Her outrage, though understandable, proved fruitless, the changeling merely grunted, satisfied.

"Not illusions. Smart."

Pointedly, she looked the raging mistress of the night, giving her in particular a telling stare.

{This is a mistake. Thine beast will destroy us!}

"If you keep up your end of the bargain, we all walk free with what we wanted... though I admit, I'm interested that you didn't bring any... backup."

Searching eyes trailed around the room, seeking, searching for something.

Or rather, someone.

'Iffin' ya'll mean Discord, he ain't-'

"I don't."

Loudly, the alabaster princess cleared her slender throat.

[Queen Chrysalis was requested by us to remain neutral on this matter, so as not to indict herself or her species with anything you or we do regardless of the outcome of today. As far as the world, and yourself, is concerned, she is staying clear of this matter entirely, and no matter what happens she will not be connected... to either side.]

The Queen mulled over that, but satisfying herself soon enough.

[However, I should note... if you had harmed one of us, I doubt she would have backed down so easily.]

"One of you... except for her, no?"

Internally, Applejack let out a hiss, trying her best not to react to the mirth filled stare bearing down on her.

>Shall we begin, already?

The lavender princess made the first move, stepping forwards in offering to the beast. Without hesitation, Chitania accepted, producing four silver collars from a hidden compartment. Deftly, hair of pink wove through them, sinking in to pre-made grooves on the surface before being covered by a thin film of metal.

>That's rather advanced, how much did one of those cost you?

She didn't answer. Merely smiled, and snapped the first collar around Twilight's neck.

Next, Celestia offered her own slender throat, and it too was encircled.

With a sigh, Applejack steeled herself for the path she had chosen, and she too was collared.

Finally...

{...This is a mistake...}

She edged back as the metal ring hovered in front of her, unclasped.

"The agreement is all of them, Pony. She is the one I am most worried about in this room."

'Luna... iffin' ya' don't want ta', Ah'm not gonna force ya'. If ya' want, we'll just back out now and pay her.'

Something in the way Chitania's eyes strained, a momentary loss of composure, made Luna think that perhaps that would be the best option...

But she had betrayed her people before, twice in fact. She, as terrible as it was to admit, owed them everything.

Even her life.

With a clack, the metal locked into place.

"Good. The three of you, stay here. Princess Twilight, follow me. If any of you three move beyond that ring-"

As she spoke, a stream of light ten feet away from the curtain lit up to the ceiling, encircling the thing on every side.

"-your collars will explode. If you try to tamper with them to reach the hair, they explode. Take them off, they explode. Pull on them too hard, they explode. Do anything else besides sit there quietly? Well... I'm sure you can put it together."

Without another word, she made her way to the curtains, giving nothing but a grunt and jerk of her head to the princess to get her to follow. A single look to the others is all she gave, lingering on Applejack's remorse ridden face just a second longer than the others.

'Ah'm sorry...'

She gave a nod of understanding, and followed through the opening in the plastic.

Not knowing what the 'medical procedure' was to be gave Twilight very little in the way of expectations, for it could have been anything to organ removal to something as simple as shaving her horn into a new shape.

And yet, somehow, this managed to defy all expectations.

Inside the enclosed curtains were a mere six things, in total.

A light.
A hospital bed.
A power saw.
A belt sander.
A bucket
And... a mare.

Chitania's hanger on mare, to be precise.

~H-hey'a, princess!~

To say she was confused just plain did not cover it.

"Fair warning, if at any point in this procedure you try to shout out to your companions what you are about to see, I will detonate your collar. If you try to back out of this procedure at any moment to tell them what it is you have seen..."

She leaned in, hot breath on Twilight's ear.

"I will wipe your mind clean, and make you a drooling vegetable. Either you are willing to do whatever I ask, or leave, now."

>And you're sure I can do it? I'm not a surgeon, you know.

"...You can."

A beat. A thoughtful moment. She could leave, she could quit, nobody would blame her, nobody would hold it against her. It didn't have to be this way.

>...Alright. But, you do realize I need to know what it is I'm doing, right? So... plan to tell me what this 'medical procedure' is now?

Something shifted in the Titan's stance. A twitch of the leg, like a sleeping dog dreaming of running. A flicker of her eyes, instinctively looking to the way out. A hitch in her breath, like she was getting ready to run.

Then came the fire.

And with it, the gasp of shock.

>Oh... fuck...

Behind her, Sweet Note winced quite violently and looked away. She had seen it, of course. Chitania had explained to her and her daughter why this was so important very shortly after the offer was made. Even still, just being in the same room as it, made her ill.

The ugly, pulsating scar throbbed, angry looking with it's bright green, almost glowing coloration. It looked nothing like the armor that covered the rest of her skin, and more like...

>A weak spot...

Eyes became slits, daring her to say a single word of anything, horn sparking in vague, but well known, warning.

>...How do you expect me to fix this? I don't... I don't know what I'm doing here...

She snarled, closing the gap between them until an ebony snout nearly poked her own lavender one.

"All you need to do is remove the damaged tissue. With that gone, I shall be able to heal as I normally do, and my chitin will be as unbreakable armor once more."

>...That's all? It's just... skin deep? There's no organ damage?

"None."

Her brow furrowed, confused for a moment, contemplating, thinking...

>...Tell me, right now, if there's anything else besides this. Because otherwise, I'm going to just stop at fixing your chest plate. You have to tell me if this is the first step to something... bigger.

The Titan's head reared back, eye cocked ever so slightly, a bit of confusion of her own in her eyes.

"There is nothing else. Fix this, I shall remove the collar, and you shall all walk free. None of us will be injured, and none will pay any money. This gives us all what we want, so do it, and rid me of this... weakness."

>...Variolus made this, didn't she?

Air hissed through clenched fangs, and the scar seemed to throb with anger.

"No... that would be that damned demon that came from her body. That yellow one."

>Not my point... you've had this for over a month, haven't you?

"...yes..."

>Why now?

Idly, her hoof reached up, scratching on the corner of the scar.

A corner where, if she looked close enough, Twilight could see just the faintest hints of green...

>So... that shot hurt you, didn't it? A stray blast of ponies not even trying to kill someone... hurt you. And it hurt bad, didn't it?

She didn't say it. She didn't need to.

"I will not have to worry about that after today."

>No... I suppose you won't. Get on the table.

She did as instructed, laying on her back as best she could, exposing her wound to all the world. Wordlessly, Twilight picked up the saw first, noting that it had something sparkling on every tip.

>Diamond tipped?

"The sander is laced with such as well. You merely need to cut close to the wound, and then sand it down until you reach the real chitin."

>How will I know which part is the 'real' chitin?

"When the sander can't cut it anymore."

>...This is rather archaic for a medical procedure.

"They're both quite sterile, as is this room. Infection is a... fear of mine, let's say."

>Thaaat's... not exactly what I meant.

"It is what I am used to. I will survive, so long as you do not cut into my organs. Which, if you do..."

Tellingly, the tip of her black hoof tapped her collar.

>Point. I merely wished to point out...

Magic cast from the alicorn's horn, ripping the power saw to shreds, tearing it to pieces before their eyes...

And then reassembling it in a new form. A form not made of a simple spinning disk and some sharp edges, but a precise thing like a pen, pointed at the tip, a cut diamond to razor sharpness on the very top. Instead of spinning, as would be expected, when she flicked the switch her magic powered a rapid vibration, blurring the blade in it's place.

>That we have advanced much more than you understand, Chitania. And if you had been open with this, I'd have a whole host of tools to make life so much easier. But, sadly...

The belt sander exploded next, twisting until it too resembled less power tool, and more one made for art.

>I'll just work with what I have. Did you bring any anesthetic?

"I don't need it."

>I thought so. Hold on.

Without a single hint of remorse, she dug in, sinking her vibrating blade into comparatively soft, weak flesh. The Changeling below her hissed as pain shot through her every cell, yet too her credit she did not so much as flinch.

>So, I didn't need to ask to strap you down after all...

She stayed so perfectly still, even the princess occasionally had to slow her movements just to check to ensure she wasn't dead. How anyone could take this level of pain without more than a bit of a strain in her neck and a gritting of her teeth, she just couldn't understand, or comprehend. But she did it. Through all the pain, the blood splattering everywhere as her weakened skin was cut loose, the splashing of green and the smell of burning flesh, she never reacted.

~HRKKKKK!~

Sweet Note, on the other hoof...

>So, that's what the bucket was for?

"It was actually supposed to be for my blood..."

~S-s-sorryHRRKKKKKK!~

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of meticulous cutting, her magic ever so gently slipped underneath the scarred tissue...

And ripped the chunk clean off.

~OHSWEETFUCKHRRKKKKKKKKKKKK!~

She spewed everything she had when it did. The blood, the muscle tissue, the exposed organs, it was all just too much for her to handle. She felt sick, right down to her stomach and beyond, when she heard and saw the heart beat.

There it was, on display for all to see, the Heart of Chitania. The organ that held such power to any changeling heir. The sign of ultimate ascension, and the most prized gift any Queen could give to their successor.

And it had been directly beneath a weak spot that had nearly been pierced by a mere accident.

"Do not get any ideas."

Her voice was low, growling, hissing with venom when she spied the princess's gaze lingering on it.

"I will blow you, and your friends, to pieces. Do not think for a second I will not if I so much as see you breath wrong over it."

Yet, Twilight instead... was unmoved.

>...You know, it's funny you talk about ideas. Because... heh... because you know a funny idea I had? You're going to love this, great joke...

Her hooftip hovered over the organ, daring not to come even close to touching it, lest she accidentally spread infection inside.

>See, I got the idea that this all? This right here? Was a chance we were going to unlock some kind of hidden changeling secret, give you a superpower beyond compare, essentially put the whole world on the platter, just for you... and I said "I can't let that happen. So do you know what I did?

Chitania's eyes went wide, worry finally seeping through into them, eyes darting around in a panic as she lay there, chest exposed, beneath the princess.

>...I put this in my hair.

Inside of the streak of light purple that went through her mane, she pulled out a single, false lock from it. Indistinguishable from the others.

>This is poison. It's trigger is being burned. This poison is fast acting, spreads far... and probably would be enough to kill you, or at least...

Visibly, the heart beneath her began to beat rapidly, throbbing in the open air.

>I did this because I knew that if you turned on us, if you just simply asked for this power and then tried to kill us, you couldn't be allowed to live. So I supposed... I supposed you didn't know much about remote frequencies or magic frequencies. You're smart, I'm sure, you probably studied up on it... but I bet I know more than you do, just a hunch, so you know what I did?

The edge of the curtain pulled back, ever so slightly, just a sliver. Just barely enough... Chitania could see out of it, and into the strange pink orb surrounding them.

>I jammed it. I jammed whateeever signal I could think of, and I can think of a lot. I did this because that way, if you did snap... it was just me.

She leaned in, her gaze mere inches from the snarling, rage filled Queen beneath her.

>Because I've never forgotten that I'm the one who let you out, and it's my fault you're here. I've never forgotten, and if you did finally snap and try to kill us... I was going to finally fix what I've done, permanently. I don't doubt you have a miiiilion fail safes to make sure I died... but I wasn't going to die alone.

She leaned back, and glared at her. The one who, even now, could not rise and strike, as she so wished. The two glared at one another, fire dancing between their sights...

>Of course... this is when I thought this was something SERIOUS!

A fire that became nothing more than comically fizzing embers.

"...What?"

She jammed her hoof forwards, mashing the tip of the Titan's nose ever so slightly up, yet being careful to make sure none of her flying rage-spittle went near the open wound.

>Do you have ANY idea how stressed out Applejack has been these last days!? How stressed out we've all been!? You made it seem like we were going to unlock some goddamn supermode in you!

"That is my-"
>That is your nothing! We've put up with you being able to be fuckhuge for MONTHS NOW! I thought you could still do it THIS MORNING! You are literally asking me to reset my life to THIS MORNING! This isn't an issue! Oh, and of course, just to make it worse, just to add on one final little twist to the knife of stupidity you have lodged in your brain, YOU GOT THIS INJURY SAVING MY BROTHER AND SISTER IN LAWS EMPIRE! Don't you think I'd be just a liiiiittttle willing to fix up the clearly injured ling who just so happened to save a whole bunch of lives!? WHY DID YOU GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS!?

So gobsmacked by the huffing, panting thing on top of her, she barely grumbled out a response.

"...Are you serious?"

>WE COULD'VE HAD YOU FIXED A MONTH AGO!

"You... you cannot be serious. My heart is exposed-"

>Oh well WHOOP DE DOO, it was open a month ago too, and everyone somehow held themselves back and didn't take a shot!

"That was because of the demon thing-"

She bopped her, quite lightly admittedly but a bop to the side of the head all the same.

>You listen here, Chitania, I don't care who you think you are or more importantly who you think I am. I would never, NEVER, NEVER kill someone who had been injured like that doing something like that. I would NEVER take advantage of you in any weakened state, especially when you've been behaving yourself. You want to try and claim the whole world wants you dead? Fine, that's your problem, not mine. I'm not even complaining, this works out fine for everyone. The only one who gets to suffer anymore in this situation is your stupid hide for giving up what could've been done a month ago. You want to keep distrusting ponies forever because of what happened to you? Fine. But don't blame it on us. It's your fault that you're only getting this fixed now, and this is all you're walking away with. When you could've...

She didn't say it.

She didn't need to.

~...Ya' could've had both the money and been fixed?~

Sweet Note had it covered.

>YES!

~Fuck.~

>YA' FUCKIN' THINK!? Now shut up and let me do my work!

The rest of the procedure was done in total, unearthly silence. A heaviness to the air, a thickness that wasn't just the rancid smell of squishy chitin being sanded off it's corners of her outer skin. There was simply nothing else to be said nothing else to be done.

Nothing more until at last, Twilight finished up, and she could find not a speck more of the scarred tissue, no matter how many times she scanned it.

The pain at last a dull throb, the titanic hoof released the side of the bed it had twisted to stifle the pain, and reached up. Without asking, the milky white hoof of Sweet Note's own met it, and the sparks flew.

Slowly, painfully slowly, the hole began to close. It was not rapid, as it had been, it was careful, meticulous, making sure that every single cell of the newly formed skin was as it should be. It was not soon, but when the time finally arrived, fresh, new, dull colored but impeccably smooth chitin was all that remained.

And she was done.

The mare beside her gasped, falling to the ground in dizziness as her love drain became too much to bare. Subtly, Twilight took notice of the fact that while she was in no hurry, instead choosing to stand up and stretch herself instead to ensure her chest plate was as it should be, she did eventually help the mare to her hooves before laying her across her back.

>Well?

"..."

Fire consumed her, and suddenly the room seemed... inadequately small.

"...Hrm."

And then she was back, back to her original size, and back to her spot in front of the unwavering princess.

"...I am satisfied."

A multitude of resounding clacks rang out through the echoing room, and Twilight heard as metal beyond joined hers in falling to the floor. Shortly, Chitania collected it.

Lightly she pushed against the pony, shoving her back ever so slightly out of the curtains

>What are you-

And in the next, that circle of cloth became an inferno of green, be it teleportation or mere incineration spell, Twilight could not tell the difference. Regardless, not a single trace of anything that had been inside remained, and only left smooth, clean floors. Before she could even think of this, the tingle of magic brushed all long her as well, cleaning everything off her coat in seconds.

Soon, she was as clean as the floors below... cleaner perhaps than she had been in days.

She really needed to shower more often.

"Our business here is concluded, you have done what I asked to satisfaction, and thus all charges and cases against the capitol of Equestria have been dropped. Good work."

So cold, so empty, but there was a levity to it, a sense of... easiness.

>Why'd you bring Sweet Note, but not Thirteen?

She didn't answer. Didn't say a single word. Just gave her a look as plain as day.

And took her leave through the plastic.

Alone for a second, just one, she took the time to compose herself. Admittedly, even now, there was a tinge of regret that she could not be free of the Titan's power, even though it changed nothing before this moment. A regret that she could not simply prevent her from calling on this power, and they must live in worry.

But, perhaps, with a certain object's help... this might change.

Her work, at last, finished, she stepped outside the plastic, to ensure her friends safety.

What she found instead were many, many stares. No collars, those too had been collected, but many, many stares.

>....what?

'Ya'll were loud.'

>...Oh...

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >SA
"Two"
~~~

>So you know why you're in your room, right?

"Yeah, Shiny..."

>You know that when we say stay put, you're supposed to stay put, right?

"Yeaahhhh..."

>So that means that when we say don't go after the giant flame monster to roast Marchmalleys on it's fire?

"I doooon't."

>Good. I'm not mad, I just want you to be safe.

"I knoooowww."

>Good... but I'll be nice and let Sombra come in and play if you promise to be good, I'm sure he's got a story to finish.

"Okay! Does this mean yer' gonna go get him outta jail now?"

>....Come again?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC
>Chitania
"13"
'???'
~~~

>...huh...

"What?"

>I think I... really like this?

"What..."

>Yeah! I think I actually really like this fruit! It's... wow it's tasty. Huh. I could eat a whole bunch of these! This is great! What do you call them?

"They're called-"

'APPLES!'

>...
"..."
'...'

>...OHHHHH! So THAT'S why your name is Applejack! This all makes sense now!

'Ya' really like 'em?'

>Actually? Yeah, I do.

'...'

STICKER

'Good ling.'

LEAVES

"...'

>...what does this sticker on my face say?

"OK changeling"

>Huh... should... should I take it off?

"I don't see why you would."

>Huh...

CRUCH

>Love me some apples.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________